arXiv subjects

Xiao-Hua Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Xiao-Hua Wang.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Length-dependent SWIR upconversion spectral response of noncritically phase-matched KTP crystals

Noncritically phase-matched (NCPM) KTP crystals support large-aperture bulk operation, avoid spatial walk-off, and relax angular-alignment requirements, making them attractive for short-wave infrared upconversion detection. To guide crystal selection for different detection requirements, we quantitatively characterize how crystal length affects the coverage and profile of their external upconversion spectral responses. A calibrated Czerny--Turner monochromator is used to measure the responses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm crystals and compare them with theoretical quantum-efficiency spectra calculated from the phase-matching model. With increasing crystal length, the response evolves from a broad profile with weak peak separation to a more distinct double-peak structure, accompanied by reduced coverage bandwidth. A representative pump-power measurement further yields the system-level external quantum-efficiency slope. These results clarify the trade-off between spectral coverage and wavelength selectivity for different crystal lengths and can be used to choose the crystal length for SWIR upconversion detection systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Mid-infrared high-sensitive cavity-free in-situ CO gas sensing based on up-conversion detection

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a significant indicator gas with considerable application value in atmospheric monitoring, industrial production and medical diagnosis. Its fundamental vibrational band locates around 4.6 $\upmu$m and has larger absorption line strength than that of overtone band, which is more suitable for the precise identification and concentration detection of CO. In this paper, the up-conversion detection is employed to convert the mid-infrared absorption signal obtained by TDLAS to the visible light band, then a silicon-based detector is utilized for detection. By which, we can achieve the highest sensitivity of 79.6 ppb under the condition of cavity-free in-situ with an absorption range length of only 0.14 m. Furthermore, the single-photon level real-time detection of CO concentration after the diffuse reflection is realized by using SPAD. This work demonstrates the merits of the up-conversion detection in terms of its functionality at room temperature and capacity for sensitivity detection. Furthermore, it presents a design and optimization methodology that has the potential to underpin the advancement of the method towards more practical applications, like industrial process monitoring, medical diagnosis and so on.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Broadband Tunable Photon-Pair Generation and Spectrum Measurement Based on Noncritical Lithium Niobate Crystals

Photon pairs play a vital role in modern science, driving extensive research into their generation. Yet, the narrow phase-matching bandwidth of conventional crystals has largely confined studies to specific wavelengths, leaving research on broadband tunable sources underexplored. Here, we employ a non-critical phase-matched lithium niobate (LN) crystal to generate widely tunable photon pairs. The generated near-infrared (NIR) photon pairs exhibit a high coincidence-to-accidental ratio (CAR > 20 dB) and are tunable across the 800-1600 nm range. We further showcase the utility of NIR photon pairs in spectroscopy by detecting carbon monoxide (CO) gas absorption. This approach will facilitate the design of advanced LN-based photonic experiments.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Passive Incoherent Ultrafast Mid-Infrared Upconversion Imaging and Its Calibration

Ultrafast mid-infrared (MIR) imaging is a key enabling capability for monitoring transient thermal and plasma phenomena in scientific diagnostics and industrial safety. However, conventional cryogenic MIR cameras face a fundamental trade-off between frame rate, noise, and pixel format. Here we report a passive, incoherent MIR imaging platform that leverages sum-frequency upconversion in chirped periodically poled lithium niobate (CPLN) to translate broadband 3--5um scenes to the near-infrared, enabling ultrafast acquisition on a silicon-based intensified CCD (iCCD). In fast-kinetics mode we achieve a physical frame rate of 100kHz with microsecond-scale gate control, and we directly capture the full evolution of an air-breakdown electric arc, resolving its rapid ignition, expansion, and decay dynamics. Beyond demonstrating ultrafast passive imaging, we introduce a drift-aware calibration workflow based on Allan deviation analysis to quantitatively select the gate width and averaging strategy under realistic slow-drift and multiplicative noise. This combined capability -- ultrafast passive MIR imaging plus operationally meaningful calibration -- provides a practical route toward real-time thermal surveillance and early-warning systems for hazardous fast transients.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

High resolution up-conversion imaging in the 10 μm band under incoherent illumination

Long-wavelength infrared band exhibits significant utility in thermal signature acquisition and molecular spectral analysis, among other applications. The up-conversion detection technique enables effective signal transduction into the detection bandwidth of silicon-based photodetectors, thereby facilitating high-sensitivity photonic measurements. We realized high-resolution up-conversion imaging for incoherent thermal targets in the 10 μm spectral regime for the first time. Furthermore, this work presents the first derivation of analytical models characterizing depth of field and astigmatic aberration in up-conversion imaging systems, which show excellent agreement between theoretical and experimental results. The results demonstrate generalisability to various up-conversion imaging systems, thus providing critical insights for the design and optimisation of such systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

In-Lab High Resolution Mid-infrared Up-conversion Stellar Interferometer Based on Synthetic Long Base-Line

Detecting mid-infrared (MIR) radiation has significant astronomical applications, although limited by unsatisfactory MIR detectors. Here we reported on the realization of a MIR up-conversion interferometer based on synthetic long base-line (SLBL) in the laboratory. The experimental system consisted of an interferometer and subsequent up-conversion detection part of mid-infrared signal, which streamlined the structure and enhanced the reliability of the system. By using a tungsten filament lamp as an imitated star, we not only achieved the single target angle resolution of 1.10 times 10^(-4) rad, but also obtained the field angle resolution of 3.0 times 10^(-4) rad of double star targets. The angular resolution is in inverse proportion to the length of baseline. The maximum length of simulated baseline in the laboratory is about 3cm. In a Keck Interferometer (KI) liked program, the base line can reach up to 85m leading to a corresponding angular resolution of 3.0 times 10^(-9) rad (about 1.8mas). The study will offer potential benefits in extending the usage of mid-infrared light in astronomical exploration.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2024

Quantum key distribution based on mid-infrared and telecom band two-color entanglement source

Due to the high noise caused by solar background radiation, the existing satellite-based free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) experiments are mainly carried out at night, hindering the establishment of a practical all-day real-time global-scale quantum network. Given that the 3-5 μm mid-infrared (MIR) band has extremely low solar background radiation and strong scattering resistance, it is one of the ideal bands for free-space quantum communication. Here, firstly, we report on the preparation of a high-quality MIR (3370 nm) and telecom band (1555 nm) two-color polarization-entangled photon source, then we use this source to realize a principle QKD based on free-space and fiber hybrid channels in a laboratory. The theoretical analysis clearly shows that a long-distance QKD over 500 km of free-space and 96 km of fiber hybrid channels can be reached simultaneously. This work represents a significant step toward developing all-day global-scale quantum communication networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Quantum-Enhanced Polarimetric Imaging

Polarimetric imaging, a technique that captures the invisible polarization-related properties of given materials, has broad applications from fundamental physics to advanced fields such as target recognition, stress detection, biomedical diagnosis and remote sensing. The introduction of quantum sources into classical imaging systems has demonstrated distinct advantages, yet few studies have explored their combination with polarimetric imaging. In this study, we present a quantum polarimetric imaging system that integrates polarization-entangled photon pairs into a polarizer-sample-compensator-analyzer (PSRA)-type polarimeter. Our system visualizes the birefringence properties of a periodical-distributed anisotropic material under decreasing illumination levels and diverse disturbing light sources. Compared to the classical system, the quantum approach reveals the superior sensitivity and robustness in low-light conditions, particularly useful in biomedical studies where the low illumination and non-destructive detection are urgently needed. The study also highlights the nonlocality of entangled photons in birefringence measurement, indicating the potential of quantum polarimetric system in the remote sensing domain.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Mid-Infrared Upconversion Imaging Under Different Illumination Conditions

Converting the medium infrared field to the visible band is an effective image detection method. We propose a comprehensive theory of image up-conversion under continuous optical pumping, and discuss the relationship between the experimental parameters and imaging field of view, resolution, quantum efficiency, and conversion bandwidth. Theoretical predictions of upconversion imaging results are given based on numerical simulations, which show good agreement with experimental results. In particular, coherent and incoherent light illumination are studied separately and the advantages and disadvantages of their imaging performance are compared and analysed. This work provides a study of the upconversion image detection performance of the system, which is of great value in guiding the design of the detection system and bringing it to practical applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Exact solutions of the angular Teukolsky equation in particular cases

In this work, we propose a new scheme to solve the angular Teukolsky equation for the particular case: $m=0, s=0$. We first transform this equation to a confluent Heun differential equation and then construct the Wronskian determinant to calculate the eigenvalues and normalized eigenfunctions. We find that the eigenvalues for larger $l$ are approximately given by $_{0}{A_{l0}} \approx [l(l + 1) - τ_{R}^2/2] - i\;τ_{I}^2/2$ with an arbitrary $τ^2=τ_R^2 + i\,τ_{I}^2$. The angular probability distribution (APD) for the ground state moves towards the north and south poles for $τ_R^2>0$, but aggregates to the equator for $τ_R^2\leq0$. However, we also notice that the APD for large angular momentum $l$ always moves towards the north and south poles , regardless the choice of $τ^2$.

gr-qc↗